Editor's choice San Francisco

This curated selection highlights San Francisco's architectural diversity and historical curiosities. Explore the 1906 Charles I. D. Looff carousel at Yerba Buena Gardens or Frank Lloyd Wright's spiral-interior building on Maiden Lane. Nature paths include the steep Filbert Steps and the Presidio’s historic Lovers' Lane. Cultural landmarks feature the Italian Renaissance-style Spreckels Temple of Music in Golden Gate Park and the antique penny arcade collection at Musée Mécanique. The list also includes South Park's oval-shaped urban green space and the recreational waters of Lake Merced.

Editor's Choice San Francisco — Map

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Musée Mécanique

The Musée Mécanique is a for-profit interactive museum of 20th-century penny arcade games and artifacts, located at Fisherman's Wharf in…

Dan Dascalescu / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Filbert Steps

Filbert Street in San Francisco, California starts at Lyon Street on the east edge of The Presidio and runs east, crossing Van Ness Avenue…

C

Lovers' Lane

A famous place for an easy hike or a bike ride. It used to be a famous place for soldiers from Presidio who used to walk this way to meet…

Acroterion / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Frank lloyd Wright building

The V. C. Morris Gift Shop is located at 140 Maiden Lane in downtown San Francisco, California, United States, and was designed by…

mliu92 / CC BY-SA 2.0

E

Children's Creativity Carousel

Hand-carved 1906 Charles I. D. Looff carousel featuring 62 animals, including horses, giraffes, and rams. Located in Yerba Buena Gardens, it survived the 1906 earthquake and was later restored for public use.

Sophie Julliard / CC-BY-SA

F

Spreckels Temple of Music

Also known as the Golden Gate Park Bandshell, this Italian Renaissance-style sandstone structure was built for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. It serves as a central venue for outdoor concerts and public performances.

Luis Villa del Campo / CC BY 2.0

G

South Park

An oval-shaped urban park in the South of Market district, originally modeled after London’s Berkeley Square in 1854. It features a contemporary playground and serves as a central hub for the surrounding tech and design community.

Fraley, Michael / CC BY 2.0

H

Lake Merced

Lake Merced is a freshwater lake in the southwest corner of San Francisco, in the U.S. state of California.

Other Lists

San Francisco's Absolute Essentials San Francisco's Hidden Gems San Francisco Museums & Galleries Historic San Francisco Sites San Francisco Churches & Cathedrals Theaters and Cinemas San Francisco Parks and Gardens San Francisco Viewpoints Key Public Transport Stops San Francisco Shopping Hotspots Top Foodie Destinations